Metal cabinet



May 12, 1931. s, SMILEY, JR 1,805,019

METAL CABINET Filed Dec. 21,'l 928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 S. SMILEY, JR

May 12, 1931.

METAL CABINET Filed Dec. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 12, 1931 1,805,019

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL SMILEY, JR., OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GLOBE-WEBNIGKE GOM- IANY, OF CINCINNATI, 01-110, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO METAL CABINET Application filed December 21, .1928. Serial No. 327,686.

This invention relates to filing cabinets or I Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet upright cases constructed of metal, and is incorporating the present improvements, the particularly directed to a cabinet of this nacabinet being shown with the drawers re ture which is readily assembled and held tomoved.

gether without the use of extraneous fasten- Figure 2 is a perspective "view of the ladder as ing devices, the interlocking assembly relaframe or front of the cabinet. tion of the several parts, making up the cabi- Flgure 3 is a vertical sectional fragmennet, rigidly fastening and binding the structary perspective view taken on line 3-3, Figture together. This type of cabinet is reure 1, through the connection of the top to a ferred to as a knock-down cabinet. side of the cabinet.

More specifically, the invention is con- Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional fragmencerned with the corner construction ofthe tary perspective View taken through a rear panels as attachment means for joining the corner of the cabinet immediately above one sides, back, and front of the cabinet, in recof the slide elements, illustrating the manner 15 tangular relation, the front having the visible of connecting the slide element to the back characteristics of a ladder and providing the panel of the cabinet for binding the interrespective entrance openings for a series of locked rear edge of the side in position. drawers inserted one above the other in the Figure 5 is ahorizontal sectional fragmenupright cabinet. The inventionconcerns, in tary perspective view on line 55, Figurel,

addition to the above, the arrangement of retaken through a forward corner of the cabispective slide elements for supporting the net, being through one of the slide elements drawers wherein they function to achieve a and showing the engagement of the slide eletrussin bracing and'binding together of the ment with the ladder for binding the latter assemb ed walls of the cabinet. in position.

25 It is therefore, an object of this invention Figure 6 is aview similar to Figure 5,taken 76 to provide a knock-down cabinet of strong, on line 66, Figure 1, but varying in that it durable construction, of which, the several is taken slightly above the slide element,il'lusparts may be conveniently packed in fiat contrating the means by which the forward end dition for shipping, and easily and quickly of the slide element is held down against ver-' 30 assembled upon delivery. tical displacement from a cross piece of the 80 -Another object relates to the edge formaladder.

tion of the respective walls of the cabinet to Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view provide improved interlocking corner conof a portion of the ladder or front frame structions for joining the respective side showing the connection of a cross piece to the 35 panels, back panel, and front of the cabinet. upright thereof.

Another object is to provide for an assern- Figure 8 is a sectional fragmentary perbl of drawer slide elements relative to the spect-ive view of the lower end of a rear corner la der or front frame at one end, and in relaof the cabinet taken on line 88, Figure 1, iltion to the corner formation of the back at the lustrating the manner in which the floor of 0 opposite end, whereby the slide rails function the cabinet is supported relative to the sides.

as means for clamping the rear corner con- Figure 9 is a sectional perspective fragnections and as a spreader for rigidly forcmentary view taken on line 9-9, Figure 1, ing the front frame into interlocking engageshowing the lower end of a forward corner ment with the formed front edges of the side of the cabinet, illustrating the manner in anels. Y which the floor is supported relative to the Other objects relate to the particular forlower cross piece of the ladder. mation and turning of the metal for achiev- Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line ing rigidity of structure, and will be apparent 1010, Figure 1, illustrating a drawer slide from the foregoing description of the accomsupport in positlon.

0 panyingdrawings, in which: Referring to the drawings, the cabinet as shown, comprises, upright side panels 10, upright rear panel 11, a ront frame or ladder 12, a top 13, a bottom 14, and drawer supporting devices or slide housings 15.

Each side panel, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, has opposingly opening channels 16 formed along its vertical edges, these channels formed by turning the respective edge at right angles and then turning back a flange 17 on the right angle portion. 7

The front frame 12 which has the visible characteristics of a ladder, comprises, a pair of upright outwardly facing channel s1de pieces 18, and a series of downwardly facing channel cross pieces 19, this ladder being detailed in Figures 2 and 7. The cross pieces 19 are secured to the side uprights by the insertion of base web extensions 20 on each end of the cross pieces engaging through slots 21- in the base of the channel iron uprights, the cross pieces being welded to the uprights at the juncture by means of right angle brackets 22. The ladder 12 is engaged into the channels 16 along the respective front edges of the side panels 10, the uprights thereof seating in the respective channels, and the cross pieces being slotted adjacent the up rights as at 23 for interfitting with -th'ex-ir 1-- ner flanges 17 of the channels 16. a

secured alon its inner vertical 'm'argins. These strips interfit and cooperate with the channels alongv the rear edges of the side panels for securing the back and sides together. The strips, described in detail, comprise, an attaching flange 25 secured along the inner marginal face of the respective side edge of the rear panel, a slot 26 formed by a forwardly extending rectangular portion opening to the rear, a rectangulartmolding portion 27 disposed outwardly adjacent the slot, and a forwardly extending flange 28 extending from the inner forward corner of the rectangular molding portion. The strips may be attachedtby Welding the flange 25 along the vertical edge of-the back. The extreme vertical margin 29 of the back overhangs the rear wall of the molding portion, being spaced therefrom the thickness of the metal. The rear panel may be constructed to include the strips 24 as integral parts thereof since the strips are permanently attached to the panel. The rear panel and strips may be termed a single element of the knock-down cabinet and are shipped permanently fixed together.

The molding portion 27 engages within the rear channel of the side panel, the inner flange 17 of the channel being disposed in the slot- 26. The side panels are assembled relative to the back by insertion of the channels of the sides through the ends of the slots formed by the strip and back relation and longitudinally sliding the parts together..

is the first step in the assembly operation. The ladder 12 is then seated in the forward channels of the side panels thus setting up the structure in rectangular relation.

The slide housings 15 for the drawers to be inserted into the cabinet function as spreader bars to hold the ladder in position and to clamp the rear interlocked connections.

Each slide housing is formed of a length of channel iron, additional inner flanges 30 being inwardly turned on the side flanges of the channel. A vertically aligned pair of rivets 31 is provided along the rear margin of each slide housing (see Figure 4) the rivet heads being spaced from the outside 'of the slide housing permitting the insertion of the rivets in forwardly opening slots 32 in the flange 28'of the retaining strips.

As shown in Figure 5, an angle piece or clip 33 is secured to the outer or rear side of each slide housing the outwardly extending flange 34 of the angle, being inclined forwardly and adapted to cooperate with the rear flange of the ladder side upright, this flange being inclined inwardly on the same angle as the flange of the angle piece. The slide housings or spreader bars are mounted by inserting the rivets 31 in the respective slots 32 and swinging the housing thereon, The rear panel has multi-turned-s'trips' 24:"

bringing the angle piece or spring clip 33 against the acute angled rear flange 34 of the ladder upright until the lower edge of the slide housing engages a respective cross piece of the ladder.

A device is provided for preventing accidental upward dislodgment of the slide housing or spreader bar, this being in the nature of a protuberance 35 punched outwardly in the web of the ladder upright, the lower edge split from the body to form a tang presenting a sharp edge engaging the lower edge of an aperture 36 formed in the slide housing. (See Figure 6.)

The top 13 of the cabinet has a rim of double formation. This structure'is achieved (see Figure 3) by securing an angle piece 38 to the underside of the cap around its inner side adjacent the integral rim flange 37 of the cap and spaced therefrom, a series of apertures 39 being provided in the downwardly extending flange of the angle piece for cooperation with, respective tangs 40 punched inwardly along the top edges of the side panels and back panel and presenting sharp lower edges cooperating with the lower edges of the apertures.

The bottom 14 of the cabinet rests along its sides on side angle pieces 41 welded to the respective side panels (see Figures 8 and 9)- and at its forward edge is inserted between the top flange 42 of the lower cross piece or apron of the ladder and an offset strip 43 secured to the underside of the top flange. The bottom is assembled prior to the insertion of the slide housings by inserting the and said side panels having inwardly and forwardly turned flanges along their respective rear edges for disposal in the corresponding slots of the back.

2. In a metal cabinet, the combination of a rear anel, side panels, and a front frame remova ly securing said side panels together,

said rear panel having slots along its vertical edges, said slots extending inwardly from the side edges of the back and thence forwardly, and said side panels having inwardly and forwardly turned flanges along their respective rear edges for detachable interlocking engagement in the corresponding slots of the rear panel, and braces wedged between the front of the cabinet and the rear panel for clam ing the rear connections together.

3. In a metal cabinet, the combination of opposite upright side panels a frame joining the front edges of said side panels, and an upright rear panel, said rear panel having formed vertical edges presenting rectangu lar moldings, each side panel having its respective rear edge turned to provide forwardly facing channels for engagement over the rectangular molding edges of the rear panel, and said rear panel having'flanges thereon overhanging the channels for securing the corners in interlocked engagement.

4. In an upright metal cabinet, the combination of opposite side panels, a front frame and a rear panel, said side panels each having rearwardly disposed vertical channels at their front edges, said front frame engaged therein, said rear panel having forme vertlcal edges presenting rectangular moldings, each side panel having its respective rear edge inwardly turned to provide forwardly facing channels for engagement over the rectangular molding edges of the rear panel, and truss bars extending between the front frame and the rear panel to lock rear panel in the respective channels of the side anels.

5. n a metal cabinet, the combination of opposite upright side panels, a front frame, and an upright rear panel, said .rear panel having slots formed in its vertical edges, said slots extending inwardly from the sides and forwardly, each of the rear edges of said side panels having formed flanges fitting in a respective slot, said side panels each having rearwardly facing channels formed along its the front frame and forward edge, said front frame engaged therein, and bars attached to the back and to the front frame.

6. In a collapsible metal cabinet, the combination of a back, sides, and front, rear; wardly facing channels along the front edges of the sides, said front engaging in said channels for securing the sides together, angled slots formed along the side edges of said back, and angled flanges formed along the respective rear edges of said sides for registration with and engagement in said slots, said back having a flange extending forwardly from a wall of each respective. slot, and spreader bars attached to the front frame and to the forwardly extending flanges for closing the slots and clamping the side panel flanges therein.

7. A metal cabinet, comprising, in combination, side panels, a rear panel, and a ladder frame, the rear edges of said side panels interlocked with the adjacent side edges of the rear panel, the forward edges of the side panels provided with inwardly extending flanges forming rearwardly opening channels, the

"uprights of said. ladder frame disposed in said channels for securing the forward ends of the side panels together, spreader elements engaging the rear panel toward the side edges thereof, extensions on the forward ends of said spreader elements engaging the rear sides of the ladder frame uprights for holding the ladder frame in position in thechannels, and tangs formed on the ladder frame uprights for engagement with said spreader elements to prevent vertical displacement of the forward ends thereof.

8. In an upright metal cabinet, the combination of side panels, a front frame, and a rear panel, said panels and frame secured together in rectangular relation, each vertical edge of said rear panel including a rectangular forwardly extending portion forming a slot opening to the rear of said panel, a squared corner molding portion ad acent the slot and a forwardly disposed support flange extending from the inner forward corner of the squared portion, the rear edges of said side panel provided with forwardly opening channels engaged over the squared corner moldings of the attaching strip, the forwardly extending inner flange of the channel disposed in the slot, and a rear margin of said back panel extending beyond the slot and overlying the rear channel wall.

9. In a metal cabinet, the combination of a rear panel and side panels, the side edges of said rear panel providing slots, these slots extending inwardly from the side edges and thence forwardly, and said side panels having inwardly and forwardly turned flanges along their respective rear edges for disposal in the corresponding slots formed along the side edges of the rear panel.

10. A metal cabinet, comprising, side pan- 4- neeaore els, a rear panel, and a ladder frame, the rear edges of said side panels interlocked with the ad acent side ed es of the rear panel, the forward edges of the side anels provided with inwardly extending anges forming rearwardly opening channels, the uprights of said ladder frame disposed in said channels for securing the forward ends of the side panels together, spreader bars engaging the rear panel toward the side edges thereof, ex-

tensions on the forward ends of said spreader elements engaging the rear side of the ladder uprights for holding the ladder in position in the channels, said engaged rear side of the ladder upright and said extensions on the forward end of said slpreader elements inclined slightly forward y whereby the exte sion is hooked in position for preventing lateral displacement of the separated bars.

11. A metal cabinet, comprising, in com bination, side panels, a rear panel, and a ladder frame, the rear edges of said side panels interlocked with the adjacent side edges of the rear panel, the forward edges of the side 2 panels provided with inwardly extending flanges forming rearwardly opening channels, the uprights of said ladder frame disposed in said channels for securing the forward ends of the side panels together, spreader elements engaging the rear panel toward the side edges thereof, extensions on the forward ends of said spreader elements engaging the rear sides of the ladder frame uprights for hold ing the ladder frame in position in the channels, said spreader elements adapted to rest on the respective cross pieces of the ladder frame, and tangs formed on the ladder frame uprights for engagement with said spreader elements to prevent upward displacement of the forward ends thereof.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name. Y r Y SAMUEL SMILEY, Ja v 

